The National tribune., 1887-03-03
DOWN THAT OFFICER WENT.

At the sound Of my comrades gun my gallant
steed stood on his hind feet, and for a minute
or SO kept me exceedingly busy trying TO find
his center of gravity. Then our General :"
ordered a charge, and we went at the enemy
like cyclone. Doubtless they supposed there
was a whole division in the vicinity, for they
1ed like scared rabbits.
After pursuing them about half mile we
returned to the mansion 10 pluck" il for the
benefit OF ourselves and Pap's army. The Gen
eral F." posted two pickets on the road 10 keep
watch, while we sailed into the good things
which had been prepared for our foes Scarcely
had we begun 10 shovel the prOvender into our
magazines when pop! bang! whoop!" on the
road sent us into our saddles in a jifTy. We
reached the road just in time TO see our pickets
coming around a short turn, holly pursued by
a squad Of Confederate cavalry, who were
pecking away at them in lively style. Down
went the horse of one OF the pickets, heels over
head, dead rs n door nail, throwing his rider
into a tangled heap 20 feet away. The other
picket instantly wheeled into the woods, giving
us a clean sweep. and we improved il. There
was evidently
TOO MUCH LOOSE LEAD
flying mp the road to suit the rebels, for they re-
tired with considerable celebrity. We didn't
follow because we could hear the noise of many
drums and buges in that direction, aud t
didn't sound healthy. Then our General"
swore at my comrade and i, and spat upon US
metaphorically speaking-and said that as we
had, by our fOOlhardiness, gotten the squad into
a bad snap, we should have the honor % of act
ing as rear-guard during the retreat.
Just at this moment we were joined by the
picket who wheeled into the woods He re-
ported whole brigade of rebel cavalry in pur-
suit Of us. so our General" lost no time in
putting tracks behind him. He got away from
his rear-guard so suddenly aud so rapidly that
we saw no more of him.
After crossing an open space about 80 yards
in extent, and my cOmrade wheeled right and
left into the brush on either side Of the road
and waited for the pursuing foe. We hadn't
waited more than five minutes before
THREE REBELS APPEARED,
coming rapidly up the road. Our guns went off
simultaneously, and two of them went back
faster than they came. The other STAYED be-
cause he couldn't help himself
We fairly ached 10 know the fate of the
picket whose horse was shot under him, but
after discussing the matter concluded il would
be too risky for just us two 10 return in search
Of him, so we lit out after our General"
After riding about 10 miles We interviewed
colored gentleman, who informed us that the
squad had passed that point about an hour pre.
yious, and that they appeared to be in a great
hurry. From this we concluded that the
" General" had no further use for our services
so we dismOunted and fed our horses and our
selves.
While here we learned that there was n cut
off from the main road, by taking which we
could save about seven miles travel. To reach
this cutoff We were obliged 10 retrace our
steps nearly a mile This was risky, but we
concluded 10 attempt it, We made the turn
safely, and then bumped ourselves along lively
for few miles. Night came down upon us
like
A STACK OF BLACK CATS,
and then we began TO exercise some circum-
spection. As we were poking along, silently
as possible we were startled almost ont Of our
boots by a ringing Halt" We halted about